Xi, Trudeau spat shows tension
CHINESE President Xi Jinping scolded Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in an on-camera dressing down at the G20 summit, an unusual public spat that could further complicate strained relations between the countries.
Video recorded by reporters at the Bali summit for world leaders this week showed Xi appearing to upbraid Trudeau after details of talks between the two leaders were leaked to the media.
Trudeau had raised with Xi the issue of what he called Chinese “interference” with Canadian citizens after Ottawa in recent weeks accused Beijing of meddling with its democratic and judicial systems.
In the clip captured on the sidelines of the Indonesian summit, Xi tells Trudeau through an interpreter: “Everything we discussed has been leaked to the papers. That is not appropriate. And that’s not the way (our discussion) was conducted, was it?”
China’s foreign ministry yesterday sought to play down the footage, saying it showed a “normal” conversation between the two leaders and “should
not be interpreted as Xi Jinping criticising or blaming anyone. First, I want to stress that China never interferes in the affairs of other countries,” said.
“The reasons for the difficulties in China-Canada relations in recent years are very clear. The fault does not lie with the Chinese side.”
In the footage, Xi tells Trudeau: “If there is sincerity, we can have conversations based on an attitude of mutual respect. If not, the results will be unpredictable.”
Xi then appears to try to walk past the Canadian leader, who replies: “In Canada, we believe in free, open and frank dialogue, and that is what we will continue to have. We will continue to look to work constructively together, but there will be things we disagree on.”
Raising his hands, Xi cuts him off, saying: “Create the conditions. Create the conditions.” He then broadens his smile, barely looking at Trudeau as he shakes his hand and leaves his counterpart to make his way out of the room.
It is not clear when, if ever, Xi becomes aware that the conversation is being filmed. The foreign ministry spokesperson denied that Xi’s words “if not” amounted to a threat, saying “both sides are expressing their respective positions”.
“Frank dialogue is not a problem for China, but we hope it will be built on a basis of equal and mutual respect instead of condescending criticism.”
It was “extremely rare” for Chinese leaders to show their displeasure in such an “off-the-cuff” way, said Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.
Xi’s remarks suggest he feels “he can pressure Trudeau with few repercussions, if any”, Chong said, adding that the Chinese leader’s “high degree of confidence” might indicate “he does not take either Trudeau or Canada that seriously as interlocutors”. In contrast, “Xi’s body language with (US President) Biden just a few days before ... seemed more cordial”, he said.
The Chinese leader’s tone was akin to “a great power speaking to a lessgreat power”, said Van Jackson, a senior lecturer in international relations at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
“Xi’s language and body posture was not at all unusual for government officials who are on less than friendly terms, in private,” Jackson said.
Tensions between China and the US put Canada in an “especially awkward position”, he said, adding that Ottawa’s “embeddedness in the network of Anglo-Saxon, intelligence-sharing democracies all but ensures it will draw China’s ire more and more as time passes”.
Xi’s meeting with Trudeau was the first face-to-face dialogue between the two leaders since 2019. It came after the Chinese leader last month broke long-standing political precedent to take a third term in power and stack top government positions with his personal allies.
Canadian federal police said last week they were investigating so-called police stations set up illegally by Beijing in the North American country.
Trudeau also said last week China was playing “aggressive games” after Canadian broadcaster Global News reported on a “clandestine network” of federal election candidates funded by Beijing.